Sleeping-doll eye mechanism



Dec. 2, 1952 sTRAYER 2,619,773

' SLEEPING-DOLL EYE MECHANISM Filed Jan. 2, 1947 INVENTOR. Lawrence H. Singer BY g I Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' 7 2,619,773 SLEEPING-DOLL EYE MECHANISM Lawrence H. Strayer, Kent, Ohio Application January 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,705

This invention relates to a sleeping-doll eye mechanism.

Heretofore, certain attempts have been made to provide sleeping-doll eye mechanisms wherein the closing movement of the eyes was desired to be gradual, in simulation of drowsing toward sleep. Such attempts have not been satisfactory, however, because the mechanisms thus produced have usually been bulky and complicated and, therefore. too expensive and unreliable for the purposes for which they were designed, or they were unsatisfactory for other reasons too numerous to mention.

One object of the present invention is to provide a simple, compact, unitary structure of the character described, including improved means for causing slow or gradual movement of the doll eyes in simulation of drowsing toward sleeping condition, certain improved portions of the mechanism being easily installed as a single unit with the usual type of movable eye device, or otherwise if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide eye control means of the character described which is automatic,'foolproof, and operable without appreciable noise.

Another object of the invention is to provide control means of the character described, which is adapted either to be supplied as part of a unit also including a movable eye device, or as a separate assembly. for mounting in association with a movable eye device of known type.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse cross-section through a, doll head having incorporated therein an eye mechanism embodying the features of the invention, the dollhead being shown in normal erect position.

Figure 2 .isa view, similar to Figure 1, but partly broken away, and showing the doll head in a horizontal position in which the eyes are fully closed.

Figure 2a is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the ball valve in the position thereof shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section through the doll head, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, similar to Figure l, but illustrating a modified form of eye mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, partly 5 Claims. (Cl. 46-169) broken away, and illustrating still another modified form of the invention.

Figure 5a is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the ball valve of Figure 5, but shown in the same relative position of the parts as Figure 2.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the numeral ii] designates a hollow doll head of the usual type, enerally made of hard rubber, impregnated fibrous-material, or the like, the same having incorporated therein a movable eye device H which includes a supporting crosspiece l2, which is fixed with respect to the head by having the ends thereof embedded in opposite sides of the doll head, and also including a pair of artificial eyes I3, l3 carried by a spindle l4 rotatably received through apertures in spaced lugs I5 on crosspiece l2. A downwardly extending arm l1, also carried by the spindle, has fixed on the lower end thereof a weight l8 adapted when the head is in the normally erect position of Figure 1, to gravitate to a stop position against the forward wall portion of the head, and thereby in said erect position to maintain the eyes in simulation of an open condition thereof with respect to eye sockets l9 in the head. This arrangement is such that upon inclining a doll head toward a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 2, the weighted arm I! upon swinging downwardly by gravity will pivot the eyes 13 about the axis of the spindle M to a position in simulation of sleeping condition thereof.

The above described eye device II, in and of itself, is capable of simulating fully awake and fully asleep conditions of the eyes, and unless additional means is provided, the movements of the eyes in either direction will be relatively quick and abrupt upon changing the positions of the head between the limits illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. To obviate this condition, additional control means, indicated generally at 20, is provided particularly for retarding the closing movement of the eyes in simulation of gradual closing thereof or drowsing toward sleep. This control device 20 may include a valve member 21 fixedly supported on a relatively rigid arm or bracket 22 extending rearwardly from the fixed support I2,

and a pneumatic container 28 attached thereto. The valve 2| may comprise a cup-shaped receptacle having an open mouth 22 at one end and the other end thereof having an inwardly presented conical seat 23 around a central aperture .24, a ball 25 being retained in the receptacle in all positions of the doll head, by a lug or lugs 26 provided at the mouth of the receptacle. The angle of the valve 2! is such that when the doll head approaches the horizontal position of Figure 2, the ball 25 will gravitate to be seated on the conical seat 23 to close the aperture 24. Suitably attached over the open end of the receptacle of the valve is a reduced neck portion 2i of pneumatic container 28, which may be a membranous container in the nature of a ballon-like sac of thin flexible rubber or other elastic material. The above referred to relative angle of valve 2| is also such that when the doll head is in the upright position of Figure l, the ball 25 will beout of seating engagement with the conical seat 23 to permit the air pressure within the sac to be equalized with the external or atmospheric pressure, in which condition of the sac. it will be maintained in distended condition, backed by the top wall portion of the doll head.

The arm I! of the eye device I I is extended upwardly and rearwardly, asxindicated at 30, to have the free end of the extension closely adjacent the bottom wall portion of the distended sac 28 .(see Figure 1). Thearrangement is such that when the doll head is inclined from the upright position of Figure 1 toward the horizontal position of Figure 2, the ball 25 will roll into seating engagement with the conical seat 23 to substantially restrict the flow of air through the aperture 24, whereby engagement of the free end of the extension 30 with distended sac 28 will initially tend to prevent the weight 18 from immediatelydropping bygravity to close the eyes l3 as. previously described. The pressure of the arm 31! against the sac-28, asurged by the Weight l8,

however, being greater than .the internal pressure of the sac, will slowly, force the air from the sac, through the ball restricted aperture 24,-and the eyes will slowly move from the open position in Eigure 1 towardthe closed position of Figure 2, in whichthesaci28. is substantially fully collapsed. A roller. Slis provided on the free end of the weight-operated extension" 30 to facilitate smooth closing engagement of the arm 3.0 with sac- 28. The forward portion 30a of the extension is utilized toprovide apositive limit to the closing movement of the-eyes, by engagement thereotw-ith the forward wall of thedoll head.

In the useor'operation of the mechanism described above, a child playing with the doll upon holding samew-ith the head 40 in the horizontal position, will cause the ball 25 to roll toward seating engagement with the conical valve seat 23 to-seal the aperture 24 ton. limited degree, and thereby to restrict the flow of air from the sac 28 as urged by pressure of the extension element-SO-against the membranous wall of the sac as previously described. The closing-movement of the eyes may be varied, as for example, by patting the doll while maintained in horizontal position'whereby resultant momentary jarring of the ball 25 away from the aperture 24 produces a life-like simulation of a child stubbornly dozing off tosleep. When it is desired to reopen the eyes of the doll, it is necessary only to return the doll to an upright. position whereupon the weight willcause, unopposed and relatively rapid return to. the. positi-onqofiiigure l. Obviously theidevice maybe designed to control the length of time in'which it takes to close. the :eyes l3,,as .by'varying the thickness or-size of the sac 28, the size of the valve aperture 23, or the size or material of the weight I 8.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which parts .41 thereof corresponding to like parts of Figures 1 to 3 are given like numerals. In place of the control device 20, however, there is provided a cylinder 35 open at one end for the reciprocation therein of a piston or plunger 36, the stem of which extends downwardly and is pivotally or flexibly connected at 38 to the free end of a suitably shaped extension arm 39, fixed to the rotatable spindle l4 which moves the eyes 13 upon movement of the weight ll 8, as before. The cylinder 35 is mounted in association with the movable eye device as by means of a bracket 36a attached to the crosspiece I2.

This arrangement is such that upon inclination of the head from the vertical toward the horizontal position, in the manner previously described,

gravitational movement of the weight l8 for closing the eyes [3 will be retarded by cushioning of the movement of plunger 3'! against the internal air pressure of the cylinder. As the pressure of the plunger 36 is continued, however, the

cushioning air within the cylinder willbeslowly forced past the edges of the plunger until it has reached the upper end of its stroke, at which time the eyes willrbe fully closed. For the foregoing purposes therefore, the plunger36 must fit relatively loosely within the cylinder so that the cushioning air will escape therefrom ina predetermined period of time, under the influence of the weight l8.

Referring now to the modified form of the inventionshown in: Figure 5, there-is "illustrated an eye control mechanism which'is' in-some-respects similar to that illustrated in Figure 4,'l-ike parts again beinggiven like numerals. A cupshaped cylinder 40 is supported on the relatively fixed crosspiece 12 to have the open end thereof faced downwardly, there beinga plunger or piston-4| reciprocable therein, by means of a stem 42 thereon being pivotally connected at 43 to the free end of an arm 44, carried by spindle l4' to rotate therewith about an axis, as urged by-gravi tational movement of weight 18. The upper'or closed end of the cylinder'is provided with a relatively small central aperture 45 which communicates the interior of thecylinder-withtheatmosphere, through a valve 46 including-a cylindrical receptacle fullyclosedat one end and also closed at the other end except for a relatively small outlet aperture 41. Received within'the valve container 46 is a;ball or closure member 48, ofslightly smallerdiameter than theinterna-l diameter of the container. The ball, in conjunction'with the angular-relation of the cylinder with respect to the doll head If], is adapted to roll toward one end of the cylinder in the upright position of the doll head and therebyto permit equalization of the internal pressure of cylinder with theexternal atmospheric pressure. Conversely, when the doll head is inclined toward horizontal position corresponding'to Figure 2, the-ball will roll toward the other end of the container 48 to close or restrict aperture 41, thereby to provide cushioning air with-in the-cylinder which will retard upward movementof the plunger 4| as urged by gravitational movement of the weight '18, and whereby the desired retarded closing movement of the eyes 13 is-accomplished. In this form of the inventionpp'rovision of the valveon the cylinder 40 makes possible a relatively leak-proof fit of the pl unger '4'! within the cylinder 40.

In all forms of the invention described above, it will be seen that the devices herein described for controlling the. closing movements of the eyes are extremely simple and compact, and readily lend themselves to easy installation of the complete eye mechanism, including the movable eye device and control means therefor, as a single unit, which is very important from a manufacturing standpoint. The control mechanisms, of course, may be mounted in association with the usual movable eye device in other ways than as shown and described, and yet embody the same general principle of operation described above.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A- sleeping-doll eye mechanism comprising an eye device including a fixed part for attachment in a doll head in association with eye sockets thereof and an eye member pivoted on said fixed part to be movable between opened and closed positions, weight means for causing said openings and closing movements of said eye member upon changing the angular position of the doll head and said fixed part with respect to vertical, a ball valve member, means for fixedly mounting said valve member-on said fixedpart, a sac of thin flexible elastic material attached to and supported by said valve member, said valve member having an aperture therein for communicating the interior of said sac with the exterior, said sac thereby normally being held in distended condition by equalizing atmospheric pressure interiorly and exteriorly thereof, said valve member having guide means for retaining its ball away from said aperture in eye opening positions of the valve and fixed part and for guiding the ball to seating position over said valve aperture when said valve and fixed part are inclined toward eye-closing positions, an extension from said eye member arranged to be swingable therewith by said weight during eye-closing movement thereof to engage said distended sac and apply pressure thereto, said seated ball in said eye-closing position restricting outward flow of air forced from the sac as a result of pressure thereon by said extension but permitting relatively slow collapsing of the sac until said eye member is in closed position.

2. A sleeping-doll eye mechanism. comprising an eye device including a relatively fixed part and weighted eye member gravitationally movable relatively thereof by moving the relatively fixed part from a normal relatively upright position toward a given vertically angular position of the same, an extension from said eye member arranged to be movable therewith, a pneumatic cushioning unit mounted in relatively fixed relation to said fixed part, said cushioning unit including a container having a part yieldingly movable against a cushion of air therein and valve means permitting gradual release of air from the container upon application of yielding pressure of said container part against the air cushion, said extension upon movement of said fixed part from said normal position toward said given angular position thereof being movable with resultant gravitational movement of said eye member to apply pressure to said container part and thereby to force the air outwardly through said valve means, said valve means including a receptacle provided with an aperture communicating the interior of the container with the exterior thereof, and a closure member gravitationally movable in the receptacle, said receptacle having guide portions for guiding said closure member to seating position over said aperture when said extension is moved with said eye member toward said given position thereof and thereby to restrict said outward flow of air to accomplish retarded movement of the eye member, said closure member being unseated from said aperture whensaid fixed part is returned to said upright position thereof, unseating of said ball permitting return of air to said container through said aperture.

3. A sleeping-doll eye mechanism comprising an eye device including a relatively fixed part and an eye member movable relatively thereof by moving the eye device toward a given vertically angular position, a weighted extension from said eye member arranged to be swingable therewith, a pneumatic cushioning unit mounted in association with said eye device, said cushioning unit including a container having a part yieldingly movable against a cushion of air therein and means permitting gradual release of air from the container upon application of yielding pressure of said container part against the air cushion, said cushioning means comprising a container having a membranous wall adapted to be held expanded by equalized interior and exterior air pressures, said container having inlet and outlet valve means, the operative relation of said extension with said container being pressure contact with said membranous wall upon vertical tilting of said eye device to force the air outwardly through said valve means, said valve means including a receptacle provided with an aperture communicating the interior of the container with the exterior thereof, and a ball in the receptacle adapted to gravitationally'seat over said aperture when said eye device is tilted to cause said pressure of the extension to be applied to the membranous wall and thereby to restrict said outward flow of air to accomplish said retarded movement of the eyes, said ball being away from said aperture when said eye device is in normal upright position to release said extension from said membranous wall and thereby permit return of air to said container through said aperture.

4. A sleeping-doll eye mechanism comprising an eye device including a relatively fixed part and an eye member movable relatively thereof by moving the eye device toward a given vertically angular position, a weighted extension from said eye member arranged to be swingable therewith, a pneumatic cushioning unit mounted in association with said eye device, said cushioning unit including a container having a part yieldingly movable against a cushion of air therein and means permitting gradual release of air from the container upon application of yielding pressure of said container part against the air cushion, said cushioning means comprising a container having a membranous wall adapted to be held expanded by equalized interior and exterior air pressures, said container having an air inlet and outlet valve means, mounting means on said valve means for fixing said container on said relatively fixed part, the operative relation of said extension with said container being pressure contact with said membranous wall upon vertical tilting of said eye device to force air outwardly through said valve means, said valve means including a receptacle provided with an aperture communicating the interior of the container with the exterior thereof, and a ball in the receptacle adapted to gravitationally seat over said aperture when said eye device is tilted to cause said pressure of aemws the extension .to :be .appliedato the membranous wall and thereby to restrict said'outward' flow of air toaccomplish said retarded movement of the eyes, said ball'being awaysfrom saidaperture when said eye device is in normalupright -position'to release; said extension. from said membranous wall andthereby. permit returnot air to'said c0n- .tainer through said aperture, said wmounting means including a member-onsaidvfixed part and to'which said receptacle is attached.

:5. A sleeping doll eye mechanism comprising an eye device including a relatively fixed part and a weighted eye member gravitationally movable relatively thereof: by moving the relatively'fixed part from a normal relatively uprightpcsition of the fixed, part toward a, given-verticallyangular position'of the same, an extension from said-eye member :arranged to be movable therewith, a pneumatic cushioningaunit, mounted in association with said eyedevice said cushiomngyunit including: an :inflatablevelastic container having: a parttieldingly movableagainst a cushion of air therein and valve :means permitting; gradual release =ofair from the, container 'uponappli'oation of; yielding pressure of said container part-against theair'cushion, the operative relation-of said extension being engagement thereof with said containerpart upon vertical "tilting of said eyetdevice to apply pressure to the container. and thereby to force the air outwardly thereof through said valve means, said valve means including a recep- 8 taclee-provided" with an aperture "communicating the: interior of the container-With the exterior thereof, and a ball in the receptacleadapted to gravitationally seat over said aperture whensaid eye device is tilted 'to cause said-pressure of said extension to be applied to the container partand thereby 'to restrict said outward flow ofair to accompli'sh retarde-d movement l of theeye memher, said ball-being-unseated from said aperture when said fixed partis returned to said normal upright position-to release saidextensionfrom said pressure engagement with the container part. unseating ofisaid ball thereby; permitting return of air to said container throughsaid-aperture. LAWRENCE" S'I'RAYER.

REFERENCES- CITED I Thefollowing references are of record in-the file of this patent:

. Fra-nce- Sept. '22,' 1903 

